The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-05-27

rowing deeply, could not help but adj
mire the new expression which the
hitherto simple boy had found.
.'Zanby." she said, tenderly holding
his withered arm. ''ef yore eyes all
opened. as you say, and EFF you air SO
much smarter than you ulster be. how
ken you hep bein' great man?"
Mother. you mustn't talk to me
thater way any more. My mind is jist
as badly crippled as my body. an il
amt nachul that ken ever amount to
any thing"
Her hopes of his coming greatness.
and her never-ending talk of the time
when he should be recognized as a
leader. constituted her only pleasure;
and now, to be robbed of it, brought O
fresh flow of tears.
Thar. now. mother, don't cry. It's
better ter be miserable with some little
sense than ter be a fool an be happy"
"But, my son." said the old woman,
endeavoring to be calm. ''you amt told
me what has brought about this terri
bic changer"
"NO, an / reckon I'd better keep it
ter myself 1t KANT be he'ped-thar
amt no earthly cure for it"
but you mout tell yore pore ole
MOTHER
'.Thar, now. don't cry. No, l don't
want ter 90 in thar"
She had made motion as though
she would draw him into the dark room.
81 don't want to go into dar no more.
It's dark enough out here for me now. +"
Don't speak slightin' o that room.
my chile. Yore father died in thar"
ayes, I know that. an b'leve I'd
die if / wuz to 60 in thar now. Ikain't
he'p-you must furgive me-but l
KANT hep but think o that as my fool
room"
"W'y, Zanby!"
81 know l oughtent ter say it.
mother. but KANT hep but think o
it that way. 1t was in thar fust heard
o my comm greatness. You would
go in thar by yourself ter mourn but
tuck me i'm thar to make me feel proud
O. myself, an long time ago. when
we'd set in thar, I'd think it wuz a
blessed privilege to be a cripple. Yes.
mother, that is my fool ROOM"
She stood in the back yard and
looked after him when he walked
down the branch, deeply troubled.
When he came home at evening. his
hoping that he had repented of
what he said. took him by the hand
and gently attempted to draw him into
the dark room.
Il will not go in the fool room," he
said rather har:hly. but quickly putting
his withered arm around her neck, he
softly added: "Mother, YOU must not
ask me ter go in thar"
"Jes' one more time. fur feel like
the spirit O. yore father is thar. ="
He hesitated a moment longer, and
then suffered her to lead him into the
room. When they came out he was
you shall have hundreds o fine
dresses when make laws" he said.
"You shaint do no work, an we'll ride
in fine carriage"
He put his sound arm around her
neck, drew her to him and kissed her.
Eyes, an We'll be SO happy then,
won't we, son."
"Yessum, an we'll eat pie"
Yes"
"An' put a whole lot o jam on wheat
bread"
'.Yes," she said.
"An' we'll give all the con bread ter
the hogs" he continued. ''Oh, femme
tell you." he delightedly exclaimed.
again drawing her to him with his
sound arm, Pm goin' ter git you one
o these here pretty striped dresses"
Eyes, son."
"An' l won't have no patched
britches. neither"
NO"
'.But will dress fine"
"Yes."
When he had gone to sleep. she gath
cred him into her arms and let her
heart throb against him.
The next morning he got up laugh
ing, and, when she stood in the door
watching him as he walked away. he
turned around and joyously waved his
hand at her. He did not return until
late in the evening. She sprang toward
him. He put out his withered arm.
She gazed ut him moment, and then
taking his hand, attempted to lead him.
He drew back with shudder.
Il will not go into the fool room.
he said. "You needn't beg me,
mother. Iswear that / hope to die if ]
ever 60 in there again"
My son. what is the matter with
you?"
I'm no longer fool that's all.
You shut my eyes last night. but they
air open now"
What has opened them?"
"You shut them"
"But who opened them?"
Without replying, he went into hi:
own room and shut the door. The mex
day she attempted to follow him, bu
he drove her rack. Shortly after h,
had gone. a neighbor. sn old woman
came over and asked if Zanby wer,
home.
"Whut makes you ask?'
didn't know, but he-wall, tn,
truth is. he is nearly dyin' about her.
"Who?" the old woman gasped.
Miss Reynolds"
Zanby's mother sank down with /,
groan. Il reckon you must have seet